Etoile de Besseges: Coquard wins stage 1

Image 1 of 4

Bryan Coquard (Vital Concept-B&B Hotels) opened his season in style, taking out the opening stage victory in Etoile de Bessèges. The Frenchman out-sprinted EF Education First's Sacha Modolo and Pierre Barbier (Natura4Ever) in the bunch sprint in Beaucaire.

The result is an important morale boost as Vital Concept fight to earn one of the remaining two wildcard spots for the Tour de France in July.

"It was cat and mouse between sprinters' teams as often happens early in the season. The team deposited me well, we were in the front of the pack and did a nice sprint. I am satisfied with my condition," Coquard said after taking the first leader's jersey.

It was clear but cold at the start of the 145km stage from Bellegarde to Beaucaire, and with a few short climbs peppering the start, it was a fast and furious warm-up until the breakaway went clear.

Five riders were in the attack, with Edward Planckaert (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) leading the way on both of the day's short classified climbs over Marco Bernardinetti (Amore & Vita-Prodir). Bernardinetti's teammate Jan-André Freuler took the last point on the first trip up the Cote de la Tour, while Juan Antonio Lopez-Cozar Jaimez (Euskadi Basque Country-Murias) rounded out the points on the second lap. Nicolas Baldo (St. Michel-Auber 93) missed out on the points.

The breakaway gained a maximum of 6:00 on the peloton before the punchy mid-point, when the chasing peloton picked up its pace and rapidly ate away at their lead. By the second climb with 40km to go, the advantage was down to 1:15. Although the bunch eased slightly and allowed the breakaway's lead to go back up, the sprinters were keen to have their day and finally closed down the quintet with 9km to go.

Direct Energie's Jerome Cousin attempted to foil the sprinters, but was quickly reeled in, and when Coquard unleashed his sprint he went unmatched. Modolo was second, narrowly holding off the hard-charging Barbier before the line.

Thanks to the time bonuses, Coquard leads the race overall by four seconds on Modolo, with Barbier third at six seconds. Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) claimed the sprint bonus and is fourth at seven seconds.

Full Results